Coverage: Live text and radio commentary on selected matches on the BBC Sport website and app.
Roger Federer made a winning return to the French Open with a dominant first-round victory over Lorenzo Sonego.
The Swiss 20-time Grand Slam winner, playing at Roland Garros for the first time in four years, beat the Italian 6-2 6-4 6-4.
He arrived to a standing ovation on Philippe Chatrier court and left with the crowd on their feet in delight.
The 37-year-old will play German lucky loser Oscar Otte, ranked 145th in the world, in the second round.
“I knew I can play very well on clay and I am very happy I did it in straight sets today,” Federer said.
“I missed the French crowd so thanks for the warm welcome today.”
Kerber suffers shock first-round defeat
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Four years away – 101 minutes to first victory
The rapturous reception he received was the only clue that Federer had ever been away from the Paris clay-court Grand Slam tournament.
The third seed missed the 2016 event with a back injury and skipped the past two clay-court seasons to preserve his body.
He raced to a 4-0 lead in the opening set before Italian world number 73 Sonego finally held his serve.
But while Sonego temporarily stemmed the flow, Federer marched on to claim the opening set in just 24 minutes.
“Two breaks in the first set was very important for me and when I was leading 4-0 I could take more risks and play more aggressive,” Federer said.
He had looked like he was going to race away with the match until Sonego began to find some form when he was a double break down midway through the second set.
A cross-court forehand winner set up three break points for the Italian, all of which Federer saved before Sonego snatched the break when the Swiss double-faulted.
The 24-year-old celebrated the breakthrough as if he had won the match – and was soon fist-pumping again when a delightful lob had Federer well beaten to seal a hold in the next game.
But the brief glimmer of hope for the Italian was soon stamped out as Federer wasted no time in a hold to love to take the second set.
A closely contested third set was effectively decided by a thundering Federer backhand across the court that gave him a break for 5-4 and he went on to wrap up the match when Sonego sent a service return wide in the next game.
Coverage: Live text and radio commentary on selected matches on the BBC Sport website and app.
Greek sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas comfortably beat German world number 110 Maximilian Marterer to reach the second round of the French Open.
The Australian Open semi-finalist broke twice in the opening two sets and clinched the deciding tie-break in a routine 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-4) victory.
He faces Indian world number 86 Prajnesh Gunneswaran or Bolivian Hugo Dellien, ranked 92, next.
Croat 11th seed Marin Cilic beat Italian Thomas Fabbiano 6-3 7-5 6-1.
The former US Open champion will face Serb Janko Tipsarevic or Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the second round.
Konta in form and doing the right things – Russell Fuller
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Tsitsipas has been in good form heading into Roland Garros, reaching the final of the Madrid Open following victories over fourth seed Alexander Zverev and five-time champion Rafael Nadal.
He also captured his third ATP title – and his first on clay – when he beat Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas 6-3 7-6 (7-4) to win the Estoril Open before losing in the semi-finals to Nadal in Rome.
The Greek, who is the rising star on the ATP Tour, also played in clay tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona – winning 13 matches in total on clay before coming to Paris.
“It is quite different to other tournaments I have played. It is slow. It is not too fast, it is fine. I love playing on this court though. It gives you another energy on the big arenas,” said Tsitsipas following his win over Marterer.
“These are the moments that we are practising and dreaming of.”
Russian umpire Svetlana Teryaeva has been found guilty by the Tennis Integrity Unit of failing to report a ‘corrupt approach’.
Teryaeva did not co-operate with the person who approached her in June 2017, but did not report it had happened.
The TIU said a third party “offered the promise of payment in return for her agreement to manipulate scores inputted on her PDA device”.
“This would allow gamblers to bet with certainty,” it added.
Following an independent hearing, Teryaeva was found to have committed two breaches of the tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) and a decision “on an appropriate sanction” will be made.
Khachanov, Fognini & Medvedev Seek Top 10 Breakthrough At Roland Garros
May262019
Find out how close this trio is to achieving the feat in Paris
The ATP Tour’s best are ready to roll at Roland Garros, the year’s second Grand Slam. While everyone will be chasing the Coupe des Mousquetaires, the tournament is especially important to several players who are trying to crack the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings for the first time.
With World No. 9 Juan Martin del Potro dropping 720 points from making the 2018 semi-finals, and World No. 10 John Isner, who will not be competing in Paris, dropping 180 points since he made the fourth round last year, it is possible that two players could make their Top 10 debuts after this event.
Russians Karen Khachanov and Daniil Medvedev as well as Italian Fabio Fognini are all on the verge of achieving the milestone, and they could break through with big performances on the Parisian terre battue.
ATP Ranking Points Entering #RG19 & Points Dropping From 2018
Player
Points Entering RG
Points Dropping
Points Remaining
9. Juan Martin del Potro
3,235
720
2,515
10. John Isner
2,895
180
2,715
11. Karen Khachanov
2,800
180
2,620
12. Fabio Fognini
2,785
180
2,605
13. Marin Cilic
2,710
360
2,350
14. Daniil Medvedev
2,625
10
2,615
While Fognini, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters champion, is currently No. 11 in the ATP Rankings, he will fall behind Khachanov on Monday due to points dropping off from reaching the Geneva semi-finals last year. He did not compete this week, thus will not add any points.
Both players advanced to the fourth round in Paris last year, so even after considering points they are dropping, Khachanov will carry a 15-point advantage over Fognini into Roland Garros.
Medvedev, who was outside the Top 50 this time last year, is also well positioned. The Russian lost to Lucas Pouille in the first round in 2018, so he will only drop only 10 points. Therefore, he will be 10 points ahead of Fognini and five behind Khachanov when taking points dropped into consideration.
Read More #RG19 Stories Did Novak Turn Into The Hulk In Paris? Roger On Paris Title Hopes: ‘I’m Not Sure If It’s In My Racquet’ Federer, Tsitsipas Feature On Opening Sunday
With Isner unable to add any points as he continues to recover from the injury he suffered in the Miami final, the trio trying to crack the Top 10 will need to reach at least the fourth round to pass the American. And if Del Potro fails to advance to the fourth round, Khachanov, Fognini and Medvedev will all be ranked ahead of the Argentine after Roland Garros. So pending the results of players ranked below them, all three players have a legitimate chance to reach the milestone.
Fognini is trying to become the third Italian man to crack the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings. Furthermore, the nine-time ATP Tour champion can become the oldest player to reach the milestone for the first time since 38-year-old Ken Rosewall and 35-year-old Rod Laver on 23 August 1973, when the ATP Rankings were first established.
Corrado Barazzutti was the last Italian in the elite group the week of 22 January 1979. The only other Italian to break into the Top 10 was Adriano Panatta, who ascended as high as World No. 4 (24 August 1976).
Italians To Crack The Top 15
Player
Career-High
Adriano Panatta
4
Corrado Barazzutti
7
Fabio Fognini
12
Paolo Bertolucci
12
The Russians are trying to become the first men from their country to crack the Top 10 since Mikhail Youzhny the week of 17 January 2011. If both Khachanov and Medvedev break into the Top 10, it will be the first time that two Russians are in the elite group since the week of 11 October 2010, when Nikolay Davydenko was No. 6 and Youzhny No. 8.
A look at the ATP Challenger Tour stalwarts poised to make a run in Paris
For the next fortnight, all eyes will be on the ATP Tour’s top guns as they battle for the coveted Coupe des Mousquetaires at Roland Garros.
Storylines abound as Rafael Nadal bids for a staggering 12th tournament title, Novak Djokovic targets a second ‘Career Grand Slam’ and Roger Federer makes his first appearance since 2015. Will Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and Juan Martin del Potro make a charge on the terre battue? And which #NextGenATP star will break through on the big stage?
There are plenty of questions to be answered over the next 15 days. The stakes couldn’t be higher, not only for the title contenders in Paris, but those hoping to crash onto the scene for the first time. For players looking to rise the ATP Rankings on the ATP Challenger Tour, a berth in a Grand Slam main draw is a significant prize. A platform to showcase their skills and eventually take the next step on the ATP Tour, it presents a huge opportunity on a global stage.
You May Also Like: The Five Players Who Can Challenge Nadal Mano A Mano At Roland Garros
A strong performance in Roland Garros can prove to be career-altering for many Challenger stars, as they target the Top 100 and beyond. So, which players are poised to wreak havoc on the draw? We look at five to watch at the second Grand Slam of the year…
Gregoire Barrere (FRA) Playing in front of the home fans is a special opportunity for all Frenchmen at Roland Garros. For Barrere, it takes on added significance. A native of Charenton-Le-Pont, located just 20 minutes from Stade Roland Garros, Barrere has played his best tennis on home soil. In fact, this year, 22 of his 24 victories have come in France, including Challenger titles in Quimper and Lille and a first ATP Tour match win in Marseille.
Barrere, who opens against Australia’s Matthew Ebden, received a wild card into the main draw after putting together a strong run of results in 2019. Up to No. 129 in the ATP Rankings, he has been a force on the ATP Challenger Tour this year, compiling a 21-7 record – tied for third among match wins leaders on the circuit.
Entering Roland Garros on the heels of a semi-final on the clay of Bordeaux, the 25-year-old’s potential path includes 10th seed Karen Khachanov in the second round and countryman Lucas Pouille in the third.
Hugo Dellien (BOL) When Dellien steps onto Court 13 on Sunday afternoon, facing India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran, there will be little fanfare but plenty at stake. Making his Grand Slam debut, the Bolivian will become the first from his country to compete in a major since 1984, ending a 35-year drought.
It is a well-deserved achievement for the 25-year-old, who crashed onto the Challenger scene last year behind a trio of titles and Top 100 breakthrough. Now, up to No. 92 in the ATP Rankings, he recently lifted his fourth trophy on the clay of Santiago, Chile, and has already translated success to the ATP Tour. His first ATP Masters 1000 match win was also his first over a Top 50 opponent, stunning Gilles Simon this month in Madrid. And he enters Roland Garros on the heels of a quarter-final run in Geneva, where he pushed eventual champion Alexander Zverev in a tight three-setter. Dellien could face sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round, with Frances Tiafoe the other seeded player in his immediate path.
Tommy Paul (USA) Few players are relishing the chance to play at Roland Garros more than the 22-year-old American. Last year, Paul was fighting a knee ailment for the majority of the season and he would miss the first three months of 2019 with a quad tendon injury. But, in just his second tournament back, he exhibited nerves of steel to lift a maiden clay-court trophy on home soil in Sarasota.
Paul saved all 15 break points faced to defeat Tennys Sandgren for his second Challenger title, which he followed with a final run in nearby Tallahassee and quarter-final finish in Savannah. It all resulted in a main draw wild card for the clay-court Grand Slam. After starting the year outside the Top 200, the American is up to No. 136 in the ATP Rankings and knocking on the door of a Top 100 breakthrough. His dogged defence translates perfectly to clay and the 2015 junior champion is back once again on the terre battue.
Paul will be thrown into the gauntlet from the first ball, opening against fourth seed Dominic Thiem. But, having pushed Kei Nishikori to the brink in his only other Top 10 match, at the 2017 Citi Open, the American has proven he lives for these moments.
Stefano Travaglia (ITA) With nine players in the draw, Roland Garros has an Italian flair in 2019. Monte-Carlo champion Fabio Fognini and last year’s semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato lead the charge, with Matteo Berrettini also seeded. But don’t overlook qualifier Stefano Travaglia. The World No. 120 battled through qualifying to reach his first Roland Garros main draw, carrying the momentum from an impressive run on the Challenger circuit.
The 27-year-old has risen more than 30 spots in the ATP Rankings during the clay-court season, thanks to a first title of the year in Francavilla al Mare, quarter-final run in Ostrava and semi-final finish at the award-winning NECKARCUP in Heilbronn. It was in Heilbronn that he suffered a heart-breaking defeat from a set and double break up against top seed Filip Krajinovic. But the Italian has since turned that result into motivation, reeling off six sets in a row to qualify at Roland Garros.
Travaglia is no stranger to the big stage either, having qualified and won a round at this year’s Australian Open, before pushing Nikoloz Basilashvili to five sets. The 27-year-old will open against France’s Adrian Mannarino, with another Frenchman – Gael Monfils – potentially waiting in the second round.
Mikael Ymer (SWE) Quick, name the #NextGenATP player with the highest Challenger win percentage this year. That’s right, Ymer has been on fire since lifting his maiden trophy in Noumea to open the season. The 20-year-old has been flying the flag for Sweden alongside older brother and World No. 116 Elias Ymer, registering an impressive 18-6 mark (.750) this year.
In just three clay-court tournaments leading up to Roland Garros, Ymer reached a pair of finals in Murcia and Bordeaux and quarter-finals in Francavilla al Mare. And with his mettle tested in qualifying, he came through three tough deciding-set battles, culminating in a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 win over fourth seed Henri Laaksonen.
Up to a career-high No. 149, Ymer is also sitting in ninth place in the ATP Race To Milan. A strong run at Roland Garros could see him bolster his bid to appear at the Next Gen ATP Finals. He opens against another qualifier, Blaz Rola, with Geneva champion Alexander Zverev potentially lurking in the second round.
Others To Watch Two Frenchmen – Quentin Halys and Corentin Moutet – enter their home Grand Slam on the heels of clay-court Challenger finals. Halys finished runner-up to Pablo Cuevas in Aix-en-Provence, while Moutet was a finalist in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, two weeks ago.
Blaz Rola claimed his first title of the year in Leon, Mexico, last month, before storming through qualifying in Paris without dropping a set. And keep an eye on Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis, who owns a tour-leading .864 win percentage this year (19-3) and three titles. His last match win on clay was in 2017, when he lifted the trophy in Shymkent.
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